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Grace's Turn
Determined to make her junior year in high school one to remember, Grace di Giovanni, an aspiring Broadway star who longs to shine, must overcome many challenges to beat out her rival, impress a Broadway director, and make her dream of starring in Grease come true.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 26, 2006
89 people want to read
About the author
Christy Carlson Romano
8 books11 followersChristy Carlson Romano is the voice of Kim on Kim Possible, and starred as Belle in Broadway’s Beauty and the Beast. Ms. Romano has starred in two Emmy-nominated television series. She has studied ballet at the School of American Ballet and is a graduate of The Professional Children’s School, both in New York City. Christy Carlson Romano is from Milford, Connecticut. She currently resides in California.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 8, 2019
Although this book has been out since 2006, and Christy Carlson Romano is one of my biggest role models, I only just now got around to reading her book. First off, her writing sucked me in from the very first chapter! Secondly, this story really resonated with me. I felt Christy really knew me with how she wrote Grace's character. The story took me back to my senior year when my school put on a production of Grease. We had a professional choreographer, and it was the first time I tried out for a lead role, just like Grace! Granted, I was stuck with the chorus, but y'all, it was the most fun I had that year!
As an aspiring singer who has been doubtful lately, reading this story reminded me of why I was pursuing this dream to begin with, and that is SO important to me. I was truly beginning to think I wasn't cut out for it, but *excuse my language* dammit, I am going to go for it, working even harder than before. Christy, if you read this, know your words have made a positive impact on me when I needed it most.
As an aspiring singer who has been doubtful lately, reading this story reminded me of why I was pursuing this dream to begin with, and that is SO important to me. I was truly beginning to think I wasn't cut out for it, but *excuse my language* dammit, I am going to go for it, working even harder than before. Christy, if you read this, know your words have made a positive impact on me when I needed it most.
December 19, 2018
I mean. It was a cute story. It wasn’t original or completely unlike any other YA contemporary but I did enjoy it. However I hated the ending. I have so many questions and no answers for any of them. Ughhhh. Also her butthead boyfriend can suck it.
May 5, 2008
Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readinngjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Grace's dream is to become an actress. Her parents, her brother and sister, her best friend, and her new boyfriend seem determined to discourage her.
After a successful experience at a summer drama camp, Grace sets her mind to changing her image. She plans to make her junior year one to remember. She plans to get a serious boyfriend for the first time, and along comes Hunter, one of the most popular boys in school. Her next plan involves trying out for the school play. Again, success--she lands the lead role in "Grease."
It seems that Grace's dreams are coming true. However, with success comes challenge. There is a rocky relationship with her parents. Her best friend appears to be unable to cope with Grace's success. Tom and Sonia, Grace's older siblings, bring their own problems into the picture. Will these obstacles derail Grace's newfound fame and happiness?
Christy Romano, a name many teen girls will recognize for her own acting successes, creates a story that is sure to grab tweens and teens with stardust in their eyes.
Grace's dream is to become an actress. Her parents, her brother and sister, her best friend, and her new boyfriend seem determined to discourage her.
After a successful experience at a summer drama camp, Grace sets her mind to changing her image. She plans to make her junior year one to remember. She plans to get a serious boyfriend for the first time, and along comes Hunter, one of the most popular boys in school. Her next plan involves trying out for the school play. Again, success--she lands the lead role in "Grease."
It seems that Grace's dreams are coming true. However, with success comes challenge. There is a rocky relationship with her parents. Her best friend appears to be unable to cope with Grace's success. Tom and Sonia, Grace's older siblings, bring their own problems into the picture. Will these obstacles derail Grace's newfound fame and happiness?
Christy Romano, a name many teen girls will recognize for her own acting successes, creates a story that is sure to grab tweens and teens with stardust in their eyes.
July 3, 2012
This book is more like a 3.5 stars for me, but without that option, I gave it 4.
I honestly only picked up this book because the author is Christy Carlson Romano, the same reason I read "Modelland" and "Elixir" because all were celebrity authors. For those who don't know who Christy Romano is, she's the one who acts as Ren Stevens, the old sister in the Disney show Even Stevens.
I found this book was a good, fast read, but nothing really happens. Everything in this book is predictable and expected. I also found the characters weren't that likable. I really didn't like Hunter or the way he treated Grace. I would label him abusive, but Grace kept going back. I found that Christy tried to write the character of Grace as someone who stopped at nothing to achieve her dreams, and tried to make her an inspirational character. I, on the other hand, found Grace very selfish, except for the few times she has one of those small inspirational speeches near the end.
OK, so maybe the book wasn't overly great, but for a quick enjoyable read, especially if you enjoy musicals and theatre, I recommend having a skim through this book!
I honestly only picked up this book because the author is Christy Carlson Romano, the same reason I read "Modelland" and "Elixir" because all were celebrity authors. For those who don't know who Christy Romano is, she's the one who acts as Ren Stevens, the old sister in the Disney show Even Stevens.
I found this book was a good, fast read, but nothing really happens. Everything in this book is predictable and expected. I also found the characters weren't that likable. I really didn't like Hunter or the way he treated Grace. I would label him abusive, but Grace kept going back. I found that Christy tried to write the character of Grace as someone who stopped at nothing to achieve her dreams, and tried to make her an inspirational character. I, on the other hand, found Grace very selfish, except for the few times she has one of those small inspirational speeches near the end.
OK, so maybe the book wasn't overly great, but for a quick enjoyable read, especially if you enjoy musicals and theatre, I recommend having a skim through this book!
October 17, 2010
I really enjoyed this book, but it is not one of my all time favorites, but it is a good, short read non the less. I am an actress myself, and I personally can easily relate to Grace's situation of trying to become a professional actress, and I believe that is what made the book so interesting to me.
The plot is not terribly complex, and it is fairly predictable. I honestly thought Grace should have had more obsticals in her way rather that having everything go nearly perfectly for her, and in that sense I believed it lacked a sense of reality in the story. Grace lands a job on broadway after having one leading role in a high school production-to me that annoys me because it takes much more work than that-and if that lesson was shown in the book, it would have been much more appealing. Non the less, it was a very good easy to read book and I recommend it for any teen actresses/
The plot is not terribly complex, and it is fairly predictable. I honestly thought Grace should have had more obsticals in her way rather that having everything go nearly perfectly for her, and in that sense I believed it lacked a sense of reality in the story. Grace lands a job on broadway after having one leading role in a high school production-to me that annoys me because it takes much more work than that-and if that lesson was shown in the book, it would have been much more appealing. Non the less, it was a very good easy to read book and I recommend it for any teen actresses/
December 18, 2011
'Grace's Turn' by Christy Carlson Romano, is a fantastic read about determination, talent, and conflict of values. It shows the importance of working hard to get the results that you want, not just by waiting for it and hope you get it.
This book I can personally relate to, as I also have aspirations of becoming an actress, yet am unsure and afraid of what the future might hold in stall for me, if I do take on this path. As I read this book, I began to learn some new things, and these taught me whole new things, that might come in useful in my future.
Now, every time I might have doubts or am unsure about my path, I will go and read this book again and remind myself of how it's going to be like that.
This book I can personally relate to, as I also have aspirations of becoming an actress, yet am unsure and afraid of what the future might hold in stall for me, if I do take on this path. As I read this book, I began to learn some new things, and these taught me whole new things, that might come in useful in my future.
Now, every time I might have doubts or am unsure about my path, I will go and read this book again and remind myself of how it's going to be like that.
October 11, 2007
It's uneven--the plot has a lot that needed to be better fleshed out. Things come up and are dropped abruptly, and some of the characters are less than believable. But the warmth of Grace's family (which I expect may be autobiographical) shines through, and the uneveness of the writing took away my suspicion that Ms Romano had help in writing this!
Stage struck girls will enjoy this, as will those who just like a fun high school read.
Stage struck girls will enjoy this, as will those who just like a fun high school read.
December 22, 2014
Well I read it in a day but that doesn't say too much. Alright message at the end about friends v. relationships, finding your passions and diving into them, etc, i.e. alright feminist message. Could have been a little less G. Are we really supposed to believe that the yearlong relationship Grace has with Hunter (hunker) has Saturday night dates that consistently end with kisses on cheeks???
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April 10, 2009eh, wasnt the greatest...
May 7, 2009
This book was ok.. i kindof felt like at parts gracie could be a total brat and i can't beleve she ends up with that hunter guy he is sooooooooo stupid
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2009
I would have given it 5 stars but since the book in some parts was a little too predicting i will only give it 4
May 28, 2010
This book was so sweet also it was entertaining.
September 29, 2011
Great, quick read. I thought Christy did a great job at providing a realistic picture of high school too.
October 24, 2011
Gah, Hunter, I want to punch you!
I hate guys like this.
And then...Grace, you must not abandon thine friends.
That's just jerk-ish.
This drove me nuts.
It was sadness. :C
I hate guys like this.
And then...Grace, you must not abandon thine friends.
That's just jerk-ish.
This drove me nuts.
It was sadness. :C
August 6, 2014
Written by Ren Stevens from Even Stevens! Really cute book; read it when I was about 12
May 5, 2012
It Was Just Like Every Other Disney Movie. Not That I'm Saying Disney Movies Aren't Awesome. Because They Are. But Sometimes You Just Want Something Different.
March 10, 2014
I liked this book, but it wasn't one of my favorites. I think Grace's situation is a little unrealistic and the people around her annoyed me. Grace's character was a little empty.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews